Lamine Yamal's World Cup Start in Doubt After Lionel Messi Comparison

Ahead of Spain‘s pivotal Group H clash with Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, was pressed again on whether La Roja’s 18-year-old prodigy, Lamine Yamal, is the next Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona.

“It would be a mistake to compare him to anyone,”de la Fuente told reporters on Saturday, arguing that Yamal is still early in his development and needs room to find his own path rather than live up to two of the greatest soccer players to ever live.

But de la Fuente didn’t stop there. Rather than shutting down the comparisons entirely, he reached for an analogy outside the sport altogether, comparing Yamal’s rare talent to iconic artists like Michelangelo and Salvador Dali.

“These kinds of players, who have something different, are ready for it,” he said. “They’re geniuses, like Salvador Dali or Michelangelo. What seems exceptional to us isn’t for them.”

Meanwhile, what he wouldn’t dive deep into is Yamal’s status for Sunday, Spain’s biggest match of the tournament.

“We’ll evaluate that,” he added. “The best news is that he’s here. Lamine is in a good moment. Whether he plays 55, 58, or 63 minutes, that will depend on the game … You’ll see tomorrow.”

Yamal, still working his way back from a hamstring injury suffered in April, made a late substitute appearance in Spain’s disappointing 0-0 World Cup opener against Cape Verde.

Even Yamal recently admitted that he isn’t ready yet to play a full game, and de la Fuente’s comments further imply that if we do see the Barcelona star, it would be in a limited capacity.

Yamal has even admitted himself that he isn’t yet ready to play a full game, and de la Fuente’s comments suggest that if he does feature Sunday, it will be in a limited capacity.

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Spain sit third in Group H after their draw with Cape Verde, with all four teams level on a single point apiece. La Roja entered the tournament as the odds-on favorites, making this one of the biggest surprises of the group stages.

That makes Sunday’s clash with Saudi Arabia in Atlanta effectively a must-win. With a group final against Uruguay looming, Spain can’t afford another stalemate.

A win sends La Roja into their finale against La Celeste on June 26 in full control of their destiny. Another slip-up would invite a fresh wave of criticism for one of the soccer’s biggest powerhouses.

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This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 9:27 PM.